Apparatus supported by a longwall conveyor frame for hauling coal mining equipment

ABSTRACT

Connected to a side of a longwall conveyor in a coal mine is one side of an I-beam type guide bar that extends lengthwise of the conveyor and is provided with upper and lower longitudinal guide channels containing the upper and lower lengths of an endless drag chain. Retaining plate means connected to the opposite side of the bar extend above and below it and also at least part way across the top of the bar but only part way across its bottom, whereby to leave space for passage of an arm connecting a guide block attached to the chain in the lower guide channel to mining equipment between the conveyor and a coal mine longwall.

United States Patent [1 1 Hafer et al. Jan. 1, 1974 [54] APPARATUS SUPPORTED BY A 3,382,004 5/1968 Hauschopp 299 34 O W L CONVEYOR FRAME FOR 3,456,983 7/1969 Rassmann 299/34 I-IAULING COAL MINING EQUIPMENT [75] Inventors: Karl-Heinz Hafer, Bochum; Walter Sg fg f igr i Purser Pelka, Gelsenkirchen; Reimund 0mey urray e a Karkutt; Pal Frenyo, both of Bochum, all of Germany [57] ABSTRACT Assignee! Gebrp f Mfschinenfablil Connected to a side of a longwall conveyor in a coal Und Elsenglesselel w Bochum, mine is one side of an l-beam type guide bar that ex- Germany tends lengthwise of the conveyor and is provided with [22] Filed: AP 24, 1972 upper and lower longitudinal guide channels containing the upper and lower lengths of an endless drag 1 pp N04 246,632 chain. Retaining plate means connected to the opposite side of the bar extend above and below it and also 52 us. Cl. 299/34, 299/43 at least Way the top of the bar but only 51 Int. Cl. E21c 27/35 Part Way across its bottom whereby to leave Space for 58 Field of Search 299/32 34 43 Passage of an arm Connecting a guide block attached to the chain in the lower guide channel to mining [56] References Cited equipment between the conveyor and a coal mine UNITED STATES PATENTS kmgwan' 3,164,412 l/l965 Hauschopp et al. 299/34 6 Claims, 6 Drawing Figures \A I I5 a? g l2 'IIIIA I a 9 Illlllllllllllllll mwmwwm PATENTED JAN 1 I974 SHEET 18F 2 n1 NL Y APPARATUS SUPPORTED BY A LONGWALL CONVEYOR FRAME FOR HAULING COAL MINING EQUIPMENT This invention relates to apparatus that is to be used in mining coal in the longwall system. The coal can be dislodged by means of a roll cutter machine that cuts a wide strip of coal from the coal seam. The cut coal is picked up by a coal removing machine running behind the cutter and loading the coal into a longwall conveyor along which the cutting machine travels and is guided. Another type of coal cutting machine is a plow or planer that strips the coal in narrow sections and loads it onto the conveyor. At present, scrapers or cross bars carried by endless chains are generally used as longwall conveyors. The upper length of the traveling conveyor runs along the upper surface of a horizontal plate connecting the two sides of the conveyor frame. The lower length of the conveyor returns below the plate. The conveyor as a whole is divided into individual sections that are connected end to end and that can be arranged in a curved path. As soon as the coal mining equipment performs its work, the conveyor is moved to the new coal face.

The coal mining equipment mentioned in the preceding paragraph is guided along a rail that is mounted on the side of the conveyor frame. Guides for coal removing machines are shown in U.S. Pat. Nos. 3,301,373 and 3,363,946. Reference is also made to US. Pat. No. 3,627,380, in which a guide rail attached to one side of a longwall conveyor is provided at intervals with projections having parallel passages therethrough that receive the upper and lower lengths of an endless traveling drag chain, by means of which coal mining equipment can be drawn along a coal mine longwall. The lower passages are provided with lateral openings for passage of the means that connects the mining equipment with the drag chain.

It is an object of this invention to provide a guide rail designed to absorb the great reaction forces that the coal mining equipment moving beside the rail exerts on it. I

Another object of the invention is to provide a guide rail that is suitable for guiding either a planer or a coal removing machine, as desired. If a coal removing machine is being used, the guide rail assures easy and satisfactory loading of the removed coal into the conveyor and prevents coal from collecting in the guide channels of the rail and impairing the operation of the drag chain.

The invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which FIG. 1 is a cross section in a coal mine;

FIG. 2 is an enlarged detail taken on the line IIII of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a view similar to FIG. 2, but of a modification of the invention; and

FIGS. 4, and 6 are further different embodiments of the invention.

Refer-ring to FIG. 1 of the drawings, the frame 1 of a longwall conveyor is shown, but the endless conveying means itself, which travels in the frame and is conventional, is omitted. The conveyor is built up of sections connected end to end. Bolted to the side of each conveyor frame section facing a coal mine longwall 2 is an upright plate 3 that extends lengthwise of the section throughout its length. The bottom of the plate may be provided with a shoulder 4 that projects a short distance beneath the conveyor to raise that side of it. Extending substantially the full length of the upright plate is a guide bar 5 that is bolted to the plate so that it can be removed. The bar has upper and lower guide channels 6 and 7 in it extending lengthwise of the bar, whereby the bar resembles an I-beam lying on its side. Disposed in these channels are the upper and lower lengths of an endless round link drag chain 8. When the length of chain in the lower channel is moved forward, the chain in the upper channel travels in the opposite direction. In the lower channel the chain is connected in any suitable manner to a guide block 9 joined to a lower arm 11 that extends toward the coal face and is connected to suitable coal mining equipment, such as a coal planer 12. The chain pulls the planer lengthwise of the conveyor to strip coal from the coal face. The planer also is provided with an upper arm 13 attached to a concave guide block 14 this is disposed in the upper channel 6 between the bottom of that channel and the upper length of the chain. Both guide blocks are shaped to fit in the respective guide channels. Depending upon the transverse inclination of the planer, the lower arm 11 may engage upright plate 3 below the guide bar, or the upper arm 13 may engage a tubular guide rail 15 welded along the upper edge of the plate to limit tilting motion of the planer.

The drag chain is retained in the guide bar channels by means of retaining plates 17 spaced lengthwise along the bar. Thus, at intervals along its length, the side of theguide bar closest to the coal face is provided with recesses 18, in which the retaining plates are located as shown in FIG. 2. Each of these plates extends both above and below the guide bar and this is turned inwardly across the top and bottom of the bar so that the U-shaped plate thus formed covers the chain between it and the bar. These horizontal portions of the retaining plates do not extend completely across the guide bar because they must leave spaces at their free ends for passage of arms 11 and 13 that connect the guide blocks to the planer. The retaining plates not only hold the chain in the guide channels, but also eliminate chain vibrations that otherwise might occur with variations in the load.

As also shown in FIG. 2, each U-shaped retaining plate 17 is provided with lateral projections 19 resting on the guide bar at opposite sides of its recess 18. There also are lateral projections 20 at the bottom of the recess. The guide bar at each side of the recess'is provided with a vertical passage 21 aligned with passages 22 and 23 through the upper and lower lateral projections of the plate. Retaining pins 25 extend down through these passages to connect the plates to the guide bar and are held in place by transverse locking pins 26.

In the modification shown in FIG. 3, the retaining plates 28 are held in place in the same way as in FIG. 2, except that they are not provided with lower lateral projections. The lower ends of all of the plates are integrally connected by a continuous bottom bar 29 extending the length of the guide bar above it. An advantage of the bottom bar is that it prevents a workman from accidentally getting his toe caught in the lower length of the drag chain.

The guide bar and tubular rail 15 are provided at one end with tapered plugs 31 for insertion into sockets in the adjoining ends of the guide bar and rail of another section of the conveyor. This type of connection provides a smooth, impact-free transition between sections without unduly limiting the angular mobility of the longwall conveyor or the guide rail.

To prevent debris from collecting in the upper guide channel, the web portion of the guide bar separating the channels is provided with longitudinally spaced vertical openings 33 therethrough as shown in FIG. 3. In order not to impair the operation of the upper chain, the dimensions of these openings are selected so as to be smaller than the dimensions of the individual links of the drag chain.

Referring now to FIG. 4 of the drawings, a channeled guide bar 35 and its supporting plate 36 are shown detachably connected to the side of a longwall conveyor frame 37 opposite to that of FIG. 1. This requires that the guide block 38 in the lower guide channel be connected to the coal planer 39 by an arm 40 extending beneath the conveyor, so plate 36 does not extend below the conveyor. Also, instead of using a plurality of spaced retaining plates, a continuous plate in the form of a channel member 41 may be used that extends the length of the guide bar. The web of this channel member is secured to the outer side of the bar, while the flanges of the channel member extend inwardly toward the conveyor. The lower flange is spaced from the vertical plate 36 to provide for passage of arm 39, but the upper flange extends substantially to the guide rail 42 welded to the upper edge of the plate, thereby closing the upper channel in the guide bar.

A channel member 44 such as just described can also be used at the working face side of the conveyor frame 45 as shown in FIG. 5. Here again, the lower flange of the channel member is spaced from the upright plate 46 to accommodate the arm 47 connecting a guide block 48 and a coal planer 49, but the upper flange extends entirely across the guide bar 50 to the rail 51 extending along the top of the upright plate. The upper arm 52 of the planer extends entirely across the conveyor and is provided at its outer end with an arcuate guide block 53 that slides along a tubular rail 54 welded to the top of a vertical plate 55 bolted to the outer side of the conveyor frame.

Instead of a coal planer, a coal remover can be attached to any of the drag chains shown in the preceding figures of the drawings. Such a coal removing machine 57 is shown in FIG. 6. It has a lower arm 58 connected to a guide block 59 in the lower channel of a guide bar 61 attached to a vertical plate 62 that is connected by a spacer 63 to the working face side of a longwall conveyor frame 64. The coal remover has a portion 66 that extends across a channel member 67 and part way down around a tubular guide rail 68 welded to the top of plate 62. The channel member is detachably connected to the exposed side of the guide bar and covers the drag chain 69 in the guide bar channels. In this particular case the coal is shown being cut by a roll cutter 71 of known construction. This machine extends across the coal remover and the longwall conveyor, and is guided by a rail 72 extending along the top of a vertical plate 73 fastened to the outer side of the conveyor frame. This plate supports a guide bar 74 provided with retaining plates 76, but in this case the bar and the plates support a device 77 that is provided with a channel for receiving a drag chain (not shown) for moving the roll cutter along the working face of the mine.

According to the provisions of the patent statutes, we have explained the principle of our invention and have illustrated and described what we now consider to represent its best embodiment. However, we desire to have it understood that, within the scope of the appended claims, the invention may be practiced otherwise than as specifically illustrated and described.

We claim:

1. Apparatus for attachment to a side of a longwall conveyor to haul coal mining equipment along the conveyor between it and a coal mine longwall, the apparatus comprising an I-beam-like guide bar adapted to extend along a side of such a conveyor and having upper and lower guide channels therein extending lengthwise of the bar, means for connecting one side of the bar to the side of the conveyor, an endless drag chain disposed in said channels for travel along the bar, the chain in the lower channel being adapted for connection therein to a guide block, a plurality of longitudinally spaced recesses in the opposite side of said guide bar and retaining plate means including a plurality of retaining plates with the central portion of each plate being disposed in one of said recesses, said retaining plate means extending above and below the opposite sides of said bar, said retaining plate means also extending at least part way across the top of the bar but only part way across the bottom of the bar to leave space for passage of an arm for connecting a guide block in the lower channel to mining equipment beside a coal mine longwall.

2. Apparatus according to claim 1, in which said plates are provided with lateral projections resting on the guide bar beside said recesses to support the plates.

3. Apparatus according to claim 1, in which each retaining plate is provided with lateral projections resting on the guide bar at both sides of the recess containing the plate, and said projections and underlying guide bar have registering vertical passages therein, the apparatus including vertical fastening members disposed in said passages and connecting the retaining plates to the guide bars.

4. Apparatus according to claim 3, in which said connecting means is an upright plate extending along the guide bar and secured to said one side of the bar, the upright plate being adapted to be detachably connected to a side of a longwall conveyor and being high enough to extend above the conveyor, said apparatus including a guide rail extending along the upper edge of said upright plate and secured thereto for guiding mining equipment moving along a coal mine longwall.

5. Apparatus according to claim 1, in which said plurality of retaining plates are spaced lengthwise of the guide bar and connected at their bottoms by a continuous bar extending substantially the length of said guide bar.

6. Apparatus according to claim 1, in which the portion of the guide bar separating said channels is provided with longitudinally spaced openings therethrough, said openings being shorter lengthwise of the bar than a chain link. 

1. Apparatus for attachment to a side of a longwall conveyor to haul coal mining equipment along the conveyor between it and a coal mine longwall, the apparatus coMprising an I-beam-like guide bar adapted to extend along a side of such a conveyor and having upper and lower guide channels therein extending lengthwise of the bar, means for connecting one side of the bar to the side of the conveyor, an endless drag chain disposed in said channels for travel along the bar, the chain in the lower channel being adapted for connection therein to a guide block, a plurality of longitudinally spaced recesses in the opposite side of said guide bar and retaining plate means including a plurality of retaining plates with the central portion of each plate being disposed in one of said recesses, said retaining plate means extending above and below the opposite sides of said bar, said retaining plate means also extending at least part way across the top of the bar but only part way across the bottom of the bar to leave space for passage of an arm for connecting a guide block in the lower channel to mining equipment beside a coal mine longwall.
 2. Apparatus according to claim 1, in which said plates are provided with lateral projections resting on the guide bar beside said recesses to support the plates.
 3. Apparatus according to claim 1, in which each retaining plate is provided with lateral projections resting on the guide bar at both sides of the recess containing the plate, and said projections and underlying guide bar have registering vertical passages therein, the apparatus including vertical fastening members disposed in said passages and connecting the retaining plates to the guide bars.
 4. Apparatus according to claim 3, in which said connecting means is an upright plate extending along the guide bar and secured to said one side of the bar, the upright plate being adapted to be detachably connected to a side of a longwall conveyor and being high enough to extend above the conveyor, said apparatus including a guide rail extending along the upper edge of said upright plate and secured thereto for guiding mining equipment moving along a coal mine longwall.
 5. Apparatus according to claim 1, in which said plurality of retaining plates are spaced lengthwise of the guide bar and connected at their bottoms by a continuous bar extending substantially the length of said guide bar.
 6. Apparatus according to claim 1, in which the portion of the guide bar separating said channels is provided with longitudinally spaced openings therethrough, said openings being shorter lengthwise of the bar than a chain link. 